kimberly

Not there for me

Revisado: 10-28-24

I’m in the process of reading every Reacher book in chronological order and I’m sorry but this is the worst so far. I couldn’t get into at all. Poor story line, poor character development, poor everything. I would’ve given it one star to be honest but I like Lee Child too much.

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Believable but unbelievable

Revisado: 10-20-24

It’s unreal to me that in these United States of America we have a justice system where minorities, poor people, and uneducated people can and have been actually killed by the government. Some people who are staunch believers in the death penalty will always start naming horrific crimes as their reasons for believing in it. They’ll ask “Do you want someone who rapes children amongst the rest us?” or “Do you think serial killers and habitual rapists can be rehabilitated?” Of course they always ask “What about if it was one of YOUR children?” As much as I try not to engage in these debates since they rarely end well, I’ve always had the same responses…”No, of course not. Who would want people like that out and about? They should be locked up. Most should never see the light of day again”. But I have two issues with the death penalty. First, ask yourself why we instituted it in the first place and why we’re still using it today. Of course to keep dangerous folks away from the rest of us but prison do that. Why the death penalty? Most folks think it’s to deter crime. “Maybe folks will think twice about perpetrating said crime if they know they can be killed for it!” At least that’s how my buddies who strongly believe in it explain it to me. The problem with that explanation is that it’s not based on fact. If, you’re one of those folks who don’t believe in science and statistics, etc. then please ignore this next part. Studies have shown over and over again that the death penalty does not actually deter crime. Not at all. Don’t take my word for it. Look it up. So, if it doesn’t deter crime and prisons are perfectly capable of keeping the bad guys away, and we’ve proven that we have and will continue to make errors in judgment where guilt and innocence is concerned, help me to understand why the death penalty is still used in about half of our states. I said I had two issues with the death penalty. The first is that there’s no proof it actually serves the purpose for which our forefathers thought it would and I just mentioned the second one a sentence or two back. What about error?? As long as human beings (jurors, judges, prosecutors, cops, etc.) are involved in our justice system there will always be errors. Because the last time I checked human beings come with lots of baggage and biases and are prone to make errors from time to time. Killing someone is not reversible (last time I checked) so why not err on the side of caution and lock them up just in case….on the off chance….a minority, or poor person, or economically depressed person happens to be convicted and sentenced to death who is actually innocent. Perhaps the day will come (much as it did with DNA analysis) when we’ll be able to scientifically prove that someone on death row is actually innocent. In response to the issue of errors I’ve heard “We only have a small insignificant error rate if we even have one at all.” “We have the best criminal justice system in the world. You just have to take the good with the bad because sometimes mistakes will happen.” “Can’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” Those types of statements are concerning of course so I typically just say something snarky like “Here’s to hoping it’s never your baby!” So, if we can solve the problem that the death people was meant to solve (punish the offender and keep the rest of the public safe) by locking folks up and since we KNOW we have and will continue to incarcerate and kill innocents, why do we still have any staunch death penalty advocates at all? I wish I knew. I do know that Grisham and Beck did a superb job of making a tough subject easy to listen to. I’m hoping someone who either doesn’t know much about the subject or someone who thinks they do but really doesn’t will read the book. Even if it doesn’t immediately change their mind, I suspect it will cause them to think and that’s when change begins. By the way, Jim McCloskey has become one of my absolute favorite narrators. This is not a funny subject but I’m sorry he made me laugh at times. He’s great in the other Grisham books also. This trio should definitely collaborate again on something fictional or nonfiction. Great team.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

This is a miss

Revisado: 09-03-24

I started reading this series and I just finished #5, Echo Burning and I want my credit back! I’m sorry but this was really really not good. I don’t want to stop reading the series because I want to see how Reacher, the character, evolves over time but come on they have to get better. I am extending Lee Child some grace because I know how he writes now so obviously he improved a great deal over time but this one…..sorry but not so much.

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A bit disappointed

Revisado: 08-30-24

I just started the Jack Reacher series and loved the first two. This one, not so much. I must have had to rewind sections over and over over again to get through it. I’m about to start #4. I hope it keeps my attention better. And the narrator for the first book, Dick Hill was far more superior.

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Consistent

Revisado: 08-24-24

Believe it or not I just discovered John Gilstrap. I believe the first book, No Mercy, was included with membership so I gave it a try. I had just finished listening to an author who audible considered similar so Gilstrap so he was recommended. I probably wouldn’t have heard of him if it hadn’t have occurred like that. Anyway, I listed to the first one and then one after the other, I listened to every single one in the Johnathan Grave series until this one, the new one that was just released. I enjoy the writing style and I absolutely love Boxers. He’s so funny I find myself laughing out when I have my earbuds in sneaking a quick listen! They’re so easy to read and exciting I listen to them in 2-3 days. The characters are great and one would think after so many novels with the same characters they would get old but somehow they don’t. I hope Gilstrap doesn’t retire them after this book.

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Fiction but non-fiction

Revisado: 06-20-24

Another five star Grisham novel. I had to put the novel aside several times because the emotion became too much. While I know this was a fictionalized novel, so many aspects of it are true. I wish so many people weren’t afraid to learn and teach others (especially children) about the simple truth. The truth about the past is not a condemnation of an entire race of people. It’s just the truth. The book was both insightful, funny at times and tearjerking at others. Only Grisham could’ve told it this way.

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5 stars

Revisado: 05-09-24

I loved everything about this book and narrator. It was suspenseful, funny, and so much more. I am getting ready to start book 2 in the series!

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Very very very good

Revisado: 05-04-24

This is Baldacci at his best. The novel was engrossing. He managed to give us a lesson in history while not making it seem like it. Mandatory reading for all!!!

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Huh?

Revisado: 04-26-24

I am really sorry but…huh?? What was that?? I really wanted to love this book for a variety of reasons but I just didn’t get it. The author was all over the place so it was really hard to follow. And that ending! You know how back in the day you paid for as many minutes as you wanted to talk on a public phone and then the count down began and soon the call disconnected? I know I’m showing my age but anyway, the ending felt like the author was afraid she was running out of minutes so she had to hurry up and throw something together whether it made sense or not! All of a sudden, after a certain pace throughout the book (mind you, the entire book was NOT good) the ending was a marathon PLUS it was not good.

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Really an excellent novel

Revisado: 04-17-24

I could not stop listening to this book. It was really engaging and it wasn’t predictable. The narration was also excellent. I don’t have one negative thing to say about it except I hate I finished it already! I will most certainly purchase more novels from her! Great job!

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